Mahindra Racing Press Officer Carrie Mathieson

TECH TALK

Posted on: 26 July, 2017

This time, we meet one of the most integral members of our team - our Press Officer Carrie Mathieson. The responsibility of getting our team's combined efforts their due recognition lies with Carrie. Covering the race from prep to podiums - that's a lot of running around for one soul, and this one just drives us home.

How did you begin your career in motorsport?

My career in motorsport began very much as a side project! I was working full-time in another industry and in my spare time trying to get to as many races and different paddocks as possible. Through this, I was able to get media accreditation which led to being offered more paid work. The opportunity then arose to move into motorsport full-time and I was in the right place at the right time to join Mahindra Racing in the FIA Formula E Championship.

I’ve always loved cars – a family friend built me my own toy garage for all my toys when I was young. It was called ‘Carrie’s Car Company’! However I only started following motorsport when I was 13, in the middle of my exams when I needed a distraction and I’ve been hooked ever since.

What are your responsibilities between races?

It’s a mixture of preparing for the next race and reacting to the previous race. I schedule interviews and media activity while preparing press releases and accompanying documents for the next race. I engage with our millions of fans on Mahindra Racing’s combined social media platforms and make sure they have access to the best up-to-the-minute news from the team.

I’m also looking at how we can promote the team between races. As we often have several weeks between rounds, it’s crucial to make sure we’re still creating a buzz about the team and talking about what we do, especially as we are having our best ever season in Formula E, and we want people to know about it!

There is still a very big education aspect with the championship, it is growing fast but to many people electric racing is still a new concept.

What are your responsibilities during races?

During a race weekend I’m responsible for making sure PR and communication-related commitments and some organisational aspects within the team are running to schedule and the drivers are where they need to be at all times. I ensure there are no clashes between media activities and important engineering meetings as there’s little room for overrunning or delays. I also interact with the onsite media as their point of contact for the team by both reactively responding to their requests and proactively generating interest in the team.

What makes Formula E so special?

Formula E does things differently. It’s turned the concept of a race-weekend format on its head by doing everything in one day. This is mainly because we race in the hearts of cities and keep disruption to a minimum in order to secure circuits in some of the best locations in the world.

It also the first full-electric racing championship and the technology transfer from the series to the road will only become more important and more relevant as time goes on.

Formula E also has a really great pedigree of drivers. In the beginning, it was very much experienced drivers competing in the series, whereas now there are chances for up-and-coming drivers like Felix to join the series who are attracted to close wheel-to-wheel racing.

Formula E is now a viable alternative to the traditional formula racing route of GP3, F2, F1.

What is the most challenging thing about working in motorsport?

Motorsport is a dynamic environment: you can prepare as much as you want but there will always be a last minute change. Even when you like to plan every last detail like me, you need to be prepared to react quickly to situations and communicate it correctly.

You need to be able to think on your feet – and still have a sense of humour if things don’t quite go to plan!

What do you enjoy most about working with Mahindra Racing?

I enjoy that we are together and in the same place at race weekends, and you can really see all the hard work and sacrifice that everyone has put in to make it a race-winning team. It’s great to see the rewards finally coming through from all the development that’s gone in to the M3Electro and the team.

What is the highlight of your career so far?

Being present for the team’s maiden win and best-ever results – a record we broke three races in a row! It’s great to see the team’s hard work translate into deserving results.

What are your interests outside of motorsport?

After race weekends, it’s nice to chill and relax with all friends and family you haven’t seen for a while! I love travelling, and the Formula E calendar this year is brilliant and has taken me to places I love and places I’ve never been to before and might not have seen otherwise.

What advice would you give someone who wants to do your job one day?

Knock on as many doors as possible and keep persevering! Use social media to your advantage and make sure you have a digital footprint that people can find. Talk to anyone and everyone and always ask questions, as you never know where it could lead. If you show them why you’re passionate about motorsport and why you love what you do, people will sit up and take notice.

Knock on as many doors as possible and keep persevering!

Quick-thinking, perseverance and passion - there's no standard skill-mix that preps you for a task this exhilarating.